A Limited Palette Unites Color
This young bull reminds me of Fargo’s Bison NDSU Championship football team– victorious again for Homecoming. My telescopic lens enabled me to get detailed photos of his herd on the side of the bluff. After getting out of my car to get closer, I noticed his rear leg twitched when my camera clicked. Another step farther back but further left caused him to stand up. I cautiously retreated to the car and he sat down again. Watchful, responsive and ready was he to protect his herd.
This painting quickly came to life using a limited palette of Cobalt Turquoise, Alizarin Crimson, Raw Sienna & French Ultramarine plus my neutrals. I stained the canvas with the Alizarin and Cobalt Turquoise before I started which gave a nice glow to the dry grass beneath their feet. The limit really doesn’t feel like one, it ties all these colors together and lets you explore them more. “Unruffled Power” is different in many ways from Bison I have painted in the past. It is interesting, a turquoise head on a distant bison looks realistic in the realm of the limited palette.
This original painting is available for purchase!
